This week I would like to continue looking at the Kingdom and the Protocol of the Kingdom. Last week we had an introduction about the protocol and what it includes. With everything going on in our country, I would like to use that as a backdrop to explain this more.
We are seeing unprecedented times. When I was in Myrtle Beach with Mark and Jane at their church, I said: “If I hear one more person saying I just want things to be normal again, I want to slap them on the head.” I know it doesn’t sound like Kingdom but I am frustrated. We had “normal” before Covid-19 and now all the riots and looting. Normal did not work well in the past. How do I know it? Jesus didn’t come so that we can have things just “normal.” Imagine the disciples asking Jesus to be normal. The Kingdom comes to upset the Status Quo. What we know in the world is not normal. Heaven is the standard for normal and if something does not reflect that, it is abnormal.
The Kingdom is not political, it is A-political. The Kingdom is not religious, it is A-religious. The kingdom does not manifest through a political party and neither does it manifest through a certain prescribed manner by any denominational stance. Jesus warned the disciples to be careful of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod (the political ruler of that day for the Jews and the spiritual leaders of that day for the Jews)
Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
The Kingdom did not come to change people’s religious beliefs or political stance. The kingdom came to change the hearts of both men and women. You can’t adhere to the protocol of the Kingdom through your politics or your denomination. We are all guilty of using our conviction on these two subjects (politics and religion) to try and spread the Kingdom message. We have failed miserably. The kingdom came to change all this.
The story Jesus tells about the Samaritan is epic in its application – Luke 10:25-37. A Jew went down to Jericho and was robbed, attacked, and left for dead next to the road. First, a priest comes by and sees him. He was part of the spiritual leaders of his day. He ignores the man and leaves to go and do his thing. As spiritual leaders in this country, we have seen too many people hurting by the injustice of politics and religion and have done little to change it. We had stuff to do.
Next comes a Levite. He is from the family of spiritual leaders. He does the same and ignores the man and goes on doing his own thing. As Churches, we have done little to challenge our leaders about their complacency and ours. We have embraced the wrong protocol, not the kingdom protocol.
Lastly, a Samaritan comes by. These people were knows as “dogs.” A derogatory term to refer to them as a nation. Coming from a place of injustice, being looked down on, being scolded for their race, he helps the Jewish man. He binds his wounds up, takes him to a safe place, and even pays for his lodging. This is who Jesus says is the neighbor. This man who was looked down on by everyone else is the one that walks in Kingdom protocol.
The protocol we must walkout is: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and equal to this, love your neighbor as yourself. On this hangs all the law and the prophets.
Normal? No never again. I am set on making right what is wrong. I will love beyond my own conviction and prejudice. Who will stand against this injustice that is trying to undo the work of the cross?
Eph. 2:14-19 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God
